Photos Reviews

Run For Your Wife

May 2004

by Ray Cooney, directed by Chris Stabb

Cast:

Mary Smith - Chloe Bardolf-Smith

Barbara Smith - Tini Kay

John Smith - Mick Munns

Detective Sergeant Troughton - Tom Stabb

Stanley Gardner - Steve Carroll

Newspaper Reporter - Ben Beeson

Detective Sergeant Porterhouse - Alan Caig

Bobby Franklyn - John Palmer

Production Team:

Director - Chris Stabb

Production Manager - Margaret Butt

Lighting - Ben Fricker

Set construction - Philip Keen

Set decoration - Clare Girvan

Sound - Ben Beeson

Props - Sheila Wall & Rose Gander

Prompt - Margaret Butt

Publicity - Mary Jones

Front of House - Lynn Trout

Posters - Philip Keen

Programme - Philip Jones & Margaret Butt

Reviews:

From Estuary News:

Farce is the most difficult of arts - they got it right ...

This brilliantly structured play was well up to the high standard previously shown by the Estuary Players in their previous productions. The farce is set in the 1980s, in a London cabby's two houses. One is in Streatham and one is in Wimbledon - each with a wife, unknown to the other, and both properties shown on stage as one very clever set, side by side with two colour schemes. Following his gallant attempt attempt to intervene in a mugging, the husband is put into hospital for the night. His life unravels and his carefully planned schedule, which had allowed him to shuttle between wives in the taxi, is totally disrupted.

Mick Munns played the wimpish but believable husband and Chloë Bardolf-Smith and Tini Kay were the 2 wives of different temperament, gradually realising and reacting with fury to their impression that things were not quite as they seemed. Steve Carroll added exceptionally good confusion and bewilderment to the plot as the hapless neighbour from upstairs.

Tom Stabb, together with Alan Caig, were the well-meaning but prying detective sergeants from separate police stations trying to sort out a mugging where the victim had given 2 addresses while confused in hospital. A friend with knowledge of these matters said that Tom Stabb as DS Troughton would be 'instantly recognisable from the Torquay nick canteen'.

The cast list was completed by Ben Beeson, newspaper reporter and John Palmer, a rather camp neighbour who together added even more perplexity to the situation.

Farce is the most difficult of arts - they got it right but it does date very quickly. The 1980s telephone was central to the story and one can only begin to imagine what changes would be needed for things to be set in 2004 with each character having his or her own mobile phone. However, it was great pleasure to come out in Topsham to such a totally enjoyable and entertaining play. No surprise it was a full house and never have more than one wife at a time - it can only lead to trouble.

- Reviewed by: Annabel Foulston

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